One away

Lester shuts down Cardinals, Red Sox one win away

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the World Series at Busch Stadium. (David J. Phillip/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

Jon Lester was spectacular and the Boston Red Sox are a win away from baseball’s world championship.

The Sox’ ace lefty went 7-2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and one run as Boston beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1, in Game 5 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday night.

The Red Sox now lead the series three games to two with Game 6 Wednesday at Fenway Park.

Lester threw just 91 pitches in his masterpiece, a fourth-inning home run to Matt Holliday the only blemish on his performance.

Koji Uehara was his usual excellent self in securing the final four outs for Boston with two strikeouts.

The big inning was the seventh. With the score 1-1, Xander Bogaerts singled up the middle and the beleaguered Stephen Drew worked a walk. Catcher David Ross, known more for his defense, laced a ground-rule double into the left-field corner to score Bogaerts. Drew advanced to third.

After Lester grounded out to the pitcher, Jacoby Ellsbury blooped a single to center field, scoring Drew. Ross attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate.

The Sox scored in the first inning when Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz hit back-to-back doubles off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.Lester’s World Series credentials shine. In three career starts, he has thrown 21 innings and allowed one run.Ortiz was 3-for-4 and is now hitting .733 in the Series.